Most film critics point to classic conflicts��ood versus evil, right versus wrong, civilization versus savagery��s defining themes of the American Western.� In this provocative examination of
Westerns, Robin L. Murray and Joseph K. Heumann argue for a more expansive view that moves beyond traditional conflicts to encompass environmental themes and struggles. Beginning with an
analysis of two iconic Westerns, Shane and The Searchers, Murray and Heumann identify the environmental dichotomies��reviously overlooked by critics��hat are broached in both
films, and they clarify the history that lies behind the environmental debates in these films and many others. The conflicts these movies address grow out of differing views of progress,
frequently in relation to technology. The authors show that such binary oppositions tend to blur when examined closely, demonstrating that environmental issues are often more complex than we
realize.
